Practising lawyers in Bayelsa State, yesterday, expressed outrage over strange killings of two married women and a lawyer in Yenagoa, the state capital, within the last three weeks, saying the police command and the state government should be more proactive on issues of security of lives and property. The Bayelsa State capital was, over a fortnight ago, rocked by separate killings of a police sergeant, a lawyer and two other youths by gunmen suspected to be armed robbers and cultists in some parts of the city.

Only four days ago, two women were raped and killed by suspected cultists in Akenfa area of the state capital. One was a mother of four and another killed with the head smashed with heavy objects and brain removed. Reacting to the development, the chairperson of the Sagbama Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the past chairperson of the International Association of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Bayelsa Zone, Mrs Dise Ogbise, expressed concern over the development, insisting that the killings are disgusting and worrisome.

According to Ogbise, “the sad incident occurred again after the demise of our colleague who was killed by unknown gunmen in broad daylight just last month.” “We are worried and angry over the high rate of insecurity in the state. We therefore call on the Bayelsa State Police Command to look into these many killings and proffer a near permanent solution as Bayelsans are all living in fear.”

“Also taking into cognisance that the elections are around the corner, how will people come out to vote if they are not sure of their safety and protection?”

•Sourced from a Leadership report